Novartis engages a new cholesterol-lowering drug deep in the pocket

He is the number one cause of death in Switzerland and in the world: from the heart attack. Around 30’000 people in Switzerland suffer each year from acute myocardial infarction. This is caused by the narrowing of the veins, often caused by deposits in a row to high cholesterol.

The pharmaceutical giant Novartis is now hoping to get with the purchase of the U.S. Biotech companies The Medicines Company, a highly effective remedy against this widespread disease: the cholesterol-lowering agent Inclisiran. In a study of the Mediterranean has shown that it can reduce the so-called bad cholesterol by over 50 percent. This Inclisirannur must be twice injected in the year under the skin, in contrast to current Cholesterol-lowering drugs, which must be injected, according to Novartis for up to 26 times per year. "The active ingredient has the potential to be one of the best-selling products in the Portfolio," said Novartis chief Vas Narasimhan in a telephone conference.

analysts believe the price is justified

For the hope of the Basel reach deep in the bag: 9.7 billion Dollar offer for The Medicines Company. This corresponds to a charge of 41 per cent compared with the market value from last Friday. Analysts consider that the transaction still makes sense. "For a Mega-Blockbuster was not overpaid," says, for example, Michael Nawrath, pharmaceutical expert of the Zürcher Kantonalbank. Especially the fact that Inclisiran only needs to be twice injected in the year, was a crucial advantage. Novartis hopes the Deal in the first quarter of next year to complete.

Novartis had, in the past, a strong cardio-vascular division, but lost ground, in 2012 Diovanden patent protection is lost and the company was not innovative follow-on product to the market in order to operate the 6-billion-Dollar gap in sales per year.

The purchased cholesterol-lowering drug is seen as a useful complement to Novartis’ heart Entresto. For the cure for heart failure, Novartis had an in-house sales build to come with the specialist doctors into the conversation. Now, the group hopes to be able to on this network, in order to establish also Inclisiran successfully in the market. The cost for the sales exceed our expenses for research and development.

Initial revenues starting in the year 2021

it is Quick money, Novartis, the new medium but are not able to make. For the new cholesterol-lowering drug want to The Medicines Company in this year in the United States to apply for authorisation in the EU, the application should be submitted in the first quarter of next year. Therefore, Novartis expects the first sales with the new resources until the year 2021.

The Acquisition by The Medicines Company is the fifth acquisition by Novartis in-chief Vas Narasimhan, all of which have the goal of the development pipeline with a view to strengthen new therapies. Among other things, he bought the cancer specialists, Advanced Accelerator Applications, for 3.9 billion dollars. For the US company Avexis, the new gene therapy developed, he paid 8.7 billion.

Controversial Takeover in the USA

Pursued by Novartis under Ex-boss Daniel Vasella a strategy of diversification, aimed Narasimhan, the company has consistently focused on innovative pharmaceutical products. The share in the joint venture with GSK for the production of over-the-counter medications such as voltaren, he sold for $ 13 billion of Partner GSK. The eye care subsidiary Alcon, has been spun off as separate company on the stock market.

Particularly the acquisition of Avexis made the headlines. Since the US Biotech company has developed a gene therapy Zolgensma against the genetically-induced muscle weakness in SMA costs in the US $ 2.1 million and is the most expensive drug in the world.

in Addition, Avexis got in Trouble with the US FDA, because the company had reported the manipulation of experimental data, only the authority, after the budget had been approved. The manipulations were, however, not relevant for the efficacy, safety or tolerability of the Agent – according to the FDA has not withdrawn approval, but launched an investigation. The case led to the registration in other markets is going to take longer.

price to treatment success

socialize is How expensive the new cholesterol-lowering drug Inclisiran, and Novartis did not provide information. Previous appropriations for this indication costs in Switzerland of about CHF 7,000 for a year of treatment. Group chief Narasimhan promised a "responsible price policy". So, The Medicines Company to lead in the United States discussions with the service providers on new payment models. The compensation for the funding of the treatment will depend on the success within a population of patients.

Created: 25.11.2019, 12:47 PM